Relatives mourn the death of Mohammed Kasba who was shot at Qalandiya checkpointIlia Yefimovich/Getty ImagesFriends and family mourn the death of the teenagerIlia Yefimovich/Getty ImagesThe mother of Mohammed Kasba, 17, mourns during his funeral near the West Bank city of RamallahMohamad Torokman/ReutersMourners carry the body of Palestinian youth Mohammed Kasba during his funeral in Qalandiya refugee camp, near the West Bank city of RamallahMohamad Torokman/Reuters

Palestinians carry the body of Mohammad Kasba, a 17-year old Palestinian who was killed by Israeli soldiers after he threw stones at their patrol close to the Qalandiya checkpointAbbas Momani/AFP

Gunmen appear during the funeral of Mohammed Kasba who was shot during a confrontation with Qalandiya checkpointIlia Yefimovich/Getty ImagesA hooded gunman brandishes a rifle during the funeralIlia Yefimovich/Getty Images

According to reports, the Palestinian youths were trying to cross the separation wall to enter Jerusalem to pray at the al-Aqsa mosque. Mohammed, who had two brothers killed during the second intifada in 2002 at the Qalandiya checkpoint, was trying to climb the separation wall.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said several Palestinians were throwing stones at the vehicle. The brigade commander got out of the jeep and started shooting at the stone-throwing Palestinians.

An Israeli military spokeswoman said the boy was hurling rocks at the vehicle from close range and that the soldiers inside were in immediate danger. She said warning shots were fired in the air before he was shot at directly.

Israeli military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Peter Lerner confirmed an Israeli colonel named Israel Shomer, a brigade commander in the West Bank, had shot Mohammed. While there is a widespread presence of Israeli troops and military police throughout the West Bank, it is rare for a senior officer to be involved in a shooting incident. The army said the military police was investigating the shooting.

A hospital official in Ramallah said the teenager had been shot in the head and chest.

Israeli border policemen detain a Palestinian during clashes at Qalandiya checkpoint. Another Palestinian youth who was throwing stones was shot and killed by a senior Israeli army officerMohamad Torokman/ReutersPalestinian men walk along Israel's controversial separation barrier as they gather to cross the Qalandiya checkpoint from the West Bank to Jerusalem for Friday prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compoundAbbas Momani/AFPAn Israeli soldier stands guard at the Qalandiya checkpoint as thousands of Palestinians wait to cross from the West Bank to JerusalemThomas Coex/AFPA Palestinian woman looks at a member of the Israeli security forces standing guard at the Qalandiya checkpointAbbas Momani/AFP

It is the latest in a string of fatal incidents in the West Bank in recent weeks, with casualties on both sides. Tensions have escalated during Ramadan and in the run up to the anniversary of the war in Gaza.